The Journey Home

11 - First Breath of Life

Eileen

Another text message.

Open up. I'm upstairs.

Then three more.

Don't make me knock down the fucking door.

I'm serious, Eileen. I don't care if the neighbors wake up.

You have a minute.

I stared at my phone in disbelief. When the knocks at the door became louder I opened only to have Alex walk inside slamming the door shut behind him. He looked insane.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked with a frown.

"Who is he? Why the hell did you have a panic attack? And why the fuck didn't you tell me you were running from someone?"

I gaped at him unable to answer all the questions he was shooting off. The way his jaw clenched was proof that he wasn't in control now, his fury taking over. But why was he angry? It's not as if he had attempted to contact me anyways. Alex ran his hands through his dark hair while muttering a curse.His eyes lingered on my face for a moment before he walked towards me and pulled me into his embrace.

I stilled.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was when Luke told me what happened?" He murmured, his fingers rubbing soothing circles on my back.

I slowly began to relax in his arms, for the first time in years allowing someone to provide me comfort. His heart was beating loud against his chest, proving just how true his words were.

"I thought you were mad at me." I whispered.

"I'm a man of my word, Eileen. You looked like you needed space so I let you have it. I should have known you wouldn't contact me though, you're too proud."

I looked up at him, those stormy hazel eyes saying more than the actual words coming out of his mouth. His gazed dropped to my lips and he hesitated before cupping my face in his hands.

"Stop fighting this. Stop shutting me out."

Before I knew it, his lips were against mine. I felt a shiver run down my spine, but it wasn't fear. The sensation was so strange that I wasn't able to move, my hands dropping to my sides in fists. My eyes were wide open while his strong arms pulled me closer to him.

He pulled away from me, but his lips were still just millimeters away. His eyes had darkened considerably and I couldn't quite place what he was thinking.

"Kiss me back, Eileen."

My lips parted in a silent gasp and he took the opportunity to kiss me once again. My body obeyed his words, my lips now moving against his in perfect synchrony. I was sure he could feel my wild heart beat matching his. It wasn't anything like I expected, being kissed. I wasn't sure what to do until I felt one of his hands guide mine to his hard chest.

His tongue seeked out my lower lip and suddenly I was tasting him. It was as if my body knew what to do, our tongues dancing to their own seductive rhythm. His masculine scent enveloped me, pulling me into an alternate universe I didn't even know could exist.

Alex griped my hip, digging his fingers in a possessive manner and a sound that I didn't know I could make left my lips. The deep need that was brewing within me proving more than any fear I may have had. The way he held me so close to him, as if it wasn't enough to be kissing me was intoxicating.

My body felt foreign, yet so alive. The fireworks going off in my belly couldn't keep up with my galloping heart. His kiss was bruising, intense yet so full of something that I don't think either of us comprehend.